Life tough on 'Indonesian Alcatraz'<\/p>\n
Antara, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Nusakambangan island has been in the news again, with reports of
\nTommy Soeharto being flown to Jakarta once a month to treat a
\ntumor.<\/p>\n
Nusakambangan island, located off Cilacap, Central Java,
\nhas a number of prisons. Its distance from the outside world
\nmakes it a suitable location for correctional facilities. A
\nconvict intent on escaping may be forced to change his mind due
\nto the harsh terrain and the sea surrounding the island. During
\nthe Dutch colonial administration in 1928, the island was used as
\na place of exile.<\/p>\n
As a place of exile, the Dutch built nine penitentiaries on
\nthe island: Karang Anyar and Nirbaya penitentiaries in 1912,
\nGliger in 1925, Karang Tengah and Besi in 1927, Permisan in 1928,
\nLimus Buntu and Batu in 1935 and Kembang Kuning in 1950.<\/p>\n
However, according to the warden of Batu Penitentiary,
\nSudiyanto, only four of the nine prisons -- Batu, Besi, Permisan
\nand Kembang Kuning -- are still in use. The other five prisons
\nare in ruins.<\/p>\n
Prison guards and their families live on the 21,000-hectare
\nNusakambangan island, and of course the prisoners.<\/p>\n
The island was established as a place of exile based on Law
\nNo. 25\/1912 and No. 34\/1937, enacted by the then Dutch governor
\ngeneral. The Indonesian government repealed its status as a
\nrestricted area in 1974 through Presidential Decree No. 38\/1974.
\nThe Ministry of Justice and Human Rights retains jurisdiction
\nover the island.<\/p>\n
Nusakambangan island is located between the provinces of West
\nand Central Java. It can be reached in five to 10 minutes by
\nferry, owned by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, from
\nWijayapura pier in Cilacap to Sodong on Nusakambangan.<\/p>\n
As a prison Island, Nusakambangan emanates an eeriness for
\nthose on the island, due to its seclusion and dense forest
\ncovering. Prison ruins indicate that the island has been an
\nisland prison for many decades.<\/p>\n
The Batu correctional facility has the capacity to house 500
\nprisoners. Currently there are only 206 inmates in Batu.
\nSudiyanto, who is also coordinator of all prisons in Cilacap and
\nNusakambangan, said that of the four prisons, Besi prison was
\nused to house prisoners convicted on drug charges. Besi can house
\n500 convicts but currently only accommodates 142.<\/p>\n
He said there were seven convicts on death row in Batu prison.<\/p>\n
Due to the isolation, Nusakambangan prison guards seem a breed
\napart. Residents' houses are relatively far from the guards'
\nofficial quarters, which are adjacent to the prisons on
\nNusakambangan.<\/p>\n
\"There are only guards and prisoners here,\" said Sudiyanto.<\/p>\n
He jokingly said that the guards were more or less in prison
\ntoo.<\/p>\n
\"If they want to eat baso (meatball soup), it's not like in
\ntown where they can immediately buy it. They have to leave the
\nisland to get it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Communication means are also limited, such as in Permisan
\nprison where there is no telephone line.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, warden of Besi prison, Ilham Djaya, said three of
\nthe 142 prisoners convicted for drugs were on death row.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/life-tough-on-indonesian-alcatraz-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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